You are preparing to admit a client with a seizure disorder. Which action can be delegated to an LPN/LVN under RN supervision?

You are preparing to admit a client with a seizure disorder. Which action can be delegated to an LPN/LVN under RN supervision?

• A. Completing the admission assessment
• B. Setting up oxygen and suction equipment
• C. Placing a padded tongue blade at the bedside
• D. Padding the side rails before the client arrives

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is matching tasks to the appropriate level of nursing responsibility. An LPN/LVN working under RN supervision can handle routine, hands-on tasks that don’t require independent assessment or clinical judgment, such as preparing equipment for possible airway management. Setting up oxygen and suction equipment fits this. It provides the necessary tools at the bedside so airway management can be rapid if a seizure occurs, while the RN retains oversight, ongoing assessment, and decision-making. The admission assessment requires comprehensive data collection and professional judgment to plan care, so it’s not delegated to an LPN/LVN. Placing a padded tongue blade at the bedside is not appropriate practice during a seizure, since inserting anything into the patient’s mouth is unsafe and discouraged. Padding the side rails in advance isn’t a standard or clearly safe practice and would depend on facility policy and RN judgment, so it isn’t the best delegated task in this scenario. So, the action that can be delegated is setting up the oxygen and suction equipment.

The key idea here is matching tasks to the appropriate level of nursing responsibility. An LPN/LVN working under RN supervision can handle routine, hands-on tasks that don’t require independent assessment or clinical judgment, such as preparing equipment for possible airway management.

Setting up oxygen and suction equipment fits this. It provides the necessary tools at the bedside so airway management can be rapid if a seizure occurs, while the RN retains oversight, ongoing assessment, and decision-making.

The admission assessment requires comprehensive data collection and professional judgment to plan care, so it’s not delegated to an LPN/LVN. Placing a padded tongue blade at the bedside is not appropriate practice during a seizure, since inserting anything into the patient’s mouth is unsafe and discouraged. Padding the side rails in advance isn’t a standard or clearly safe practice and would depend on facility policy and RN judgment, so it isn’t the best delegated task in this scenario.

So, the action that can be delegated is setting up the oxygen and suction equipment.